Independence….Still Stunning After 8 Years Apart!

In May 2008, I was lucky to attend the launch of one of the UK market’s favourite vessels, Royal Caribbean’s Independence of The Seas.

At that time, she was the largest cruise ship in the world at 154,407 tons and capable of carrying 4,376 passengers. She came complete with amazing new features such as an ice rink, a rock climbing wall and a surf simulator called the Flow Rider.

I have just sailed on her again for four nights with some colleagues and I am happy to say that Independence still looks stunning and has actually improved with age. I’d like to think that I too have improved with age, but I won’t be adding on a 2008 picture of me as comparison! The food was wonderful as was the entertainment around the ship, from the dancing on the ice to the incredible full-length production of Grease in the theatre and the brilliant singer in the Dog and Badger pub every night.

One thing you really do need if travelling with Royal Caribbean and intending on drinking anything other than the soft drinks, tea and coffee in the Windjammer buffet, is a drinks package. These do not come cheap but neither do the drinks on board especially as they all come with a service charge on top. The package we had worked out at about £230 per person for the 4 nights so as I said, not cheap, but you will break even cost-wise if only having 4 drinks a day. This might sound a lot but maybe a glass of wine with lunch, a couple more with dinner and a cocktail or two soon adds up and after all, you are on holiday. Royal Caribbean are offering a lot of holidays now including this package so this makes them very good value.

It was good seeing her again and reminding myself why she is so popular. If you would like to read more about our short trip, click on the link below or call me to arrange to see her for yourself.

http://www.cruise.co.uk/cruise-guides/eblast-royal-5nov16/?affref=alisonr